Marine plastic litter and microplastics is a serious and rapidly growing issue of global concern which requires an urgent and global response, involving all relevant actors at all levels.

The Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics, met in Nairobi from 29 to 31 May and in Geneva from 3 to 7 December 2018, in accordance with resolution UNEP/EA.3/Res.7, on marine litter and microplastics, adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly at its third session, in December 2017. The options discussed at these meetings will be presented to the UN Environment Assembly at its fourth Session in March 2019.

Experts called for the need for stronger global action to
combat marine litter. A number of initiatives and activities
exist aiming at eliminating plastic litter entering the ocean
and their potential should be explored within their
respective mandates. Meanwhile, there was a growing
recognition for a new governance model to be explored.
Some delegations pointed to a new legally binding
agreement as one possible effective response to be
considered.

Strengthening waste management systems
has been underlined by UNEA as key in solving this issue.
Norway has put forward a proposal for a draft resolution
on stronger global governance. Other countries have also
put forward resolutions.

Regardless of the outcomes of the upcoming Assembly, the Expert Group acknowledged the need to continue progress on urgent national and regional activities in the near term to curb plastic litter entering into the ocean recognizing the options and priorities outlined by the second and third sessions of the UN Environment Assemblies.

A dialogue on governance options to be considered at the 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly, toop place at the Palais des Nations, Room XXIV, on Thursday 14 February, 2.30pm.

Agenda

Welcome and Introduction

H.E. Amb. Hans BRATTSKAR, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Edwige Koumby MISSAMBO, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of the Gabonese Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland

François GAVE , Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Switzerland

Video of the event

Summary

Coming soon

In recent years, the United Nations Environment Programme and the international community have been emphasizing their efforts to address the problem of plastics in our environment.

A Global Partnership on Marine Litter was launched at the Rio+20 Conference in 2012, and various resolutions have been adopted at the first, second and third United Nations Environment Assemblies, on the challenges posed by marine plastic debris and microplastics, asking to address such materials at source. Governments, businesses and civil society organizations have been encouraged to make bold commitments to beat plastic pollution.

Recently in Geneva,

In September 2018, a first high level event on marine plastic litter and microplastics took place during the 11th meeting of the Basel Convention’s Open-ended Working Group.

In preparation of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics in Geneva, a debate co-organized by the Permament Missions of Norway and New Zealand was also held at the Palais, in November last year.

The Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics met in Geneva in December 2018, and various side events took place, discussing options to be presented to the UN Environment Assembly at its fourth Session in March 2019.

H.E. Amb. Hans BRATTSKAR in his welcoming remarks highlighted:

Plastic litter travelling by ocean currents knows no borders, and is now found in the most remote places on the planet.

It is a truly global problem that calls for stronger international cooperation.

The world`s environmental ministers have met three times at the UN Environment Assembly since 2014. Each time they have agreed to comprehensive resolutions on marine litter and microplastics.

These resolutions have established a good basis for future work.

The resolutions demonstrate broad international consensus on the nature of the problem, and our collective ambition.

At UNEA-3 in 2017, the world agreed that the long-term goal must be to stop plastic waste from entering the oceans.

There is a broad agreement on the need for immediate action.

There is also a growing understanding for the need for stronger governance structures at the global level.

The resolutions further point to the need to exploit the potentials of relevant existing international agreements within their mandates, and the importance of cooperation between governments and other key stakeholders such as industry, NGOs, consumers and experts.

The UNEA-resolutions underline that preventive measures targeting land-based sources of microplastic pollution and plastic litter are most important for lasting improvement.

Among preventive measures, waste management is key.

At the fourth UN Environment Assembly in March, we need to take this agenda a significant step further.

That is why Norway has put forward a proposal on a resolution on marine litter and microplastics.

The proposal focuses on international governance.

It contains two main elements:

First, a proposal to start work under the auspices of UN Environment, on important "building blocks" for a stronger governance response. Proposing:

Improved scientific data collection and development of methodologies,

stronger technical and other support by UN Environment to enable governments to improve on their national policies and measures, and

the development of a mechanism that enables the international community to take stock of the sum of actions taken and to decide on further action.

The other main element of the Norway proposal is to establish a working group with the aim to prepare recommendations for a new dedicated global structure to combat marine litter, for consideration by UNEA-5 in 2021.

Norway proposes that the work plan for the group should include considerations on a legally binding treaty,

The main purpose of a stronger governance framework would be to support governments in their efforts to strengthen their national policies and measures to reduce land-based sources to releases of marine plastic litter and microplastics, and to conduct effective clean-up operations as needed.

A dedicated framework should mobilise and prioritise financial resources and capacity building.

A new framework must also clarify the division of roles and responsibilities between a new structure and existing instruments and organisations. This will be an important issue for the working group.

Norway is of the opinion that UN Environment must continue to take the lead in organising the international work towards a stronger governance structure in this area.

There is a proliferation of initiatives, actors and platforms emerging to combat marine litter. This is in itself good news. However, it also demonstrates a dire need for closer coordination.

UN Environment is mandated to "keep under review the world environmental situation in order to ensure that emerging environmental problems with international significance receive appropriate and adequate consideration by Governments".

Further, UN Environment has universal membership and is therefore uniquely suited to be responsible for the further development of an international governance structure to combat marine litter.

Norway welcomes the support of member states and other stakeholders for their draft resolution

Christine introduced the outcomes of the recent negotiations and what is put in place to enhance the existing instruments for managing waste and its control and what should be discussed and decided at the next UN Environment Assembly. (Christine HAFFNER-SIFAKIS Presentation)

There is a complex international legal framework.

Efforts such as the development of synergies could be further encouraged (i.e. regional seas conventions, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, SAICM).

There is a need for enhanced coordination and governance, in addition to strengthening, improving and building on existing partnerships, instruments and mechanisms.

Partnerships between producers and the private sector also need to be developed.

To overcome the lack of data, we have to cooperate with academia and use scientific information for policies.

Circular economy, policy, prevention and regulations are dimensions that need to be looked at.

Land-based actions, through solid waste management for example, should not be neglected as the issue starts on land before reaching the seas.